Chapter Thirty: This Live Broadcast Has Some Substance!
On the mobile phone screen, the call duration increased second by second. Cold wind blew in from outside, and the white curtain swayed, like some ghostly figure dancing.
At this moment, Zhang Shan, sitting at his desk, was covered in beads of sweat on his forehead.
He was even a bit afraid to touch his phone, fearing that the moment he hung up, that figure with white hair would appear behind him.
“Uncle? Are you listening? Uncle.” The commanding voice on the other end sounded again.
Zhang Shan’s emotions were a bit on the verge of collapse, and he growled, “What exactly do you want! I’m broadcasting live on the radio! Thousands of ears are listening! If something happens to me, you won’t be able to run away!”
Although the number of followers on Zhang Shan’s radio had never exceeded four digits, it felt as if, by saying this, he had countless listeners standing with him, filling him with courage.
“Uh, Uncle… I really am not a ghost story; we just couldn’t get a taxi to go home, so we tried calling your number.” Luxianbei explained on the other end.
“I didn’t expect you weren’t resting either. If it’s convenient for you, could you come pick us up?”
Zhang Shan twitched his mouth, “……” We? Didn’t you™ go to Shihhekou Middle School alone?
He had never truly believed Luxianbei’s claim about going to Shihhekou to catch a cheating partner; it always seemed to him that she had some untold secret for being there.
In the dead of night, holding an ulterior motive, she ran to a haunted abandoned school, and when she came out, there was an extra “person” beside her. Just thinking about it made Zhang Shan feel a chill.
“Uncle?”
“Here, waiting!” Zhang Shan bit his teeth in response and turned to face the microphone before him, a hint of helplessness flashing in his slightly murky eyes.
“Dear audience, I have an urgent matter to attend to and must end the broadcast early. See you tomorrow!”
After a pause, Zhang Shan let out a long sigh and added, “If I can survive tonight…”
With that, he ended the broadcast, picked up the car keys from the desk, and headed out the door.
After Zhang Shan left, the main interface of the online broadcasting station displayed a few striking big words: [Host Not in Live Room]. Aside from that, it was left with a pitch-black screen.
However…
The popularity of the live stream kept rising, with the number of comments multiplying several times.
On the dark screen, an abundance of comments scrolled, almost like a haunting.
I Come from the Mausoleum of the First Emperor: “Just arrived, asking out of ignorance, the host has ended the broadcast, so why are there still so many people? Is this the legendary underworld live broadcast?”
White-Cut Chicken Below Qingcheng Mountain: “This is a ghost story radio broadcast.”
“Earlier, the host mentioned encountering a strange girl, and then a girl called him, which we all heard.”
“He responded in a panic, seemingly afraid, and then left.”
“It seems he was discussing ghost stories with that girl and even mentioned something about coming back to continue the broadcast if he survives, which is quite scary.”
I Just Slide In: “I’m in the same city as the host, Shihhekou Middle School is an abandoned high school nearby, and I’ve heard it’s haunted.”
Not Partnering with Monks: “I suspect that girl is a plant, the host is putting on a show, but even if it’s fake, the live effect is through the roof.”
Boiled Mermaid: “What he said is true, I was there at the time; I’m the mobile phone.”
I Come from the Mausoleum of the First Emperor sent gifts: rockets x3
I Come from the Mausoleum of the First Emperor: “Sounds like there’s something going on with this live broadcast! Following!”
Online Old Dirty P: “PRPR, I want to see the ghost story girl’s legs…”
Online Old Dirty P was muted for 1 day.
……
At midnight, on the empty streets, a shadow squatted by the roadside burning paper money at the crossroads, with white rice topped with incense candles placed in front. The flames from the burning paper money could not illuminate their dark faces.
They occasionally cast glances at Luxianbei, who stood by the street, and although there was nothing particularly alarming about their actions, it made her feel uneasy.
Luxianbei frowned, Why do these ghost stories seem so interested in me? Although I look decent from a human aesthetic perspective, do ghost stories share the same sense of aesthetics?
While pondering, she glanced down the road illuminated by the dim streetlight, and it seemed like it had rained; the black asphalt road was stained with wet marks, and a blank mist floated.
In the distance, an old bus emerged from the thin fog, as if it had come from a past time, stopping at an empty station. Through the windows, one could see the spacious inside of the bus, utterly deserted.
There was no one waiting at the station; nevertheless, it had waited alone for a long time, and then, with a series of creaking noises, it moved forward, disappearing into the fog in the blink of an eye.
Luxianbei, “……” Has automated driving technology advanced this far already?
If an ordinary person accidentally boarded that bus, with neither a driver nor passengers, who knows what would happen!
Uncle Zhang told me to wait here, but he didn’t say when he would come. Could it be that he’s too afraid to go out at this time and waits until daylight?
Luxianbei thought, her gaze unconsciously drifting to Du Sixian, who was sitting on her suitcase, gently swinging her long legs, seeming not to have taken the earlier incident too seriously.
Luxianbei took her eyes off Du Sixian and continued to daydream, waiting for Uncle Zhang to arrive.
When the silence settled, she was unexpectedly surprised to find that the sense of hunger that had troubled her for a long time had not appeared for quite some time.
Although there was still a hollow feeling in her stomach, the previous sense of hunger, which had almost driven her mad, was no longer there.
What’s going on? Luxianbei wondered, it felt as though there were seventeen or eighteen Uncle Zhangs secretly replenishing my spirit energy.
“Vroom—vroom—!”
Before Luxianbei could make sense of it, the sound of an engine humming from the hidden depths of the winding road interrupted her thoughts.
She looked in the direction of the sound.
Before long, a speeding taxi burst into view, with all sorts of bizarre shadows hanging on it, swaying eerily as the taxi moved forward.
That shape resembled a moving nest of ghost stories, sending chills down Luxianbei’s spine, and she inwardly felt anxious for Zhang Shan.
No wonder he was known as the second best driver in Huacheng! He drove right past without being attacked by any ghost stories?
Using a taxi to haul around ghost stories; if they could collect payment from them, wouldn’t that be considered an unconventional way to earn income? Luxianbei thought.
The taxi made a sharp turn, leaving a curved tire mark on the ground, and stopped in front of the two.
As soon as the car stopped, the ghost stories hanging on it noticed the high-level aura of ghost story affiliate emanating from Du Sixian, revealing panic, and scattering with shrieks.
Zhang Shan parked the car, rolled down the window, and glanced at Luxianbei with a dark expression, speaking in a low voice, “Get in the car!”
“High person, what’s this…” Du Sixian was momentarily taken aback at the scene before her.
Luxianbei was worried that the ghost stories that had just hung around the taxi might come back, so while putting the suitcase in the trunk, she urged Du Sixian, “No time for explanations, get in the car first!”
Du Sixian slightly parted her lips, not doubting anything, opened the car door, and took a seat in the back, quietly observing Zhang Shan through the rearview mirror while pondering.
Isn’t this just like in many movies and novels, where the protagonists, the high person, all know a taxi driver with special skills?
This taxi driver, whose skills were exceptional and exuded a domineering aura, definitely wasn’t an ordinary person; their relationship with the high person must be along those lines, right?
It seems I need to think of a way to get in good with him!
Du Sixian thought, her gaze sweeping around the taxi interior, landing on a small box for business cards beside the passenger seat, her eyes narrowing.
After Du Sixian got into the car, Zhang Shan had been secretly observing her through the rearview mirror and, upon seeing her eyes fall on the business card box, his expression subtly changed. He suddenly surged up, grabbing the box before Du Sixian could reach for it and throwing it out the window.
Du Sixian, “？？？”
What is he doing?
“Hmph!” Zhang Shan sneered, glaring at Du Sixian fiercely through the rearview mirror.
Using the same trick again, trying to trap me? Let me tell you, that’s not happening! A real experienced driver would never stumble in the same place twice! Zhang Shan thought.
Du Sixian, “……” Why does it seem like he doesn’t particularly like me?
“Bang—!”
Luxianbei got into the car, closed the door, and looked back and forth at the silent Zhang Shan and Du Sixian, feeling a bit bewildered.
What did they do while I wasn’t there? Why does the atmosphere feel strange?
……
Under the night sky, the taxi was solitary, kicking up dust as it gradually left the confines of Shihhekou Middle School.
Along the way.
Uncle Zhang drove urgently, filled with a deep resentment, while also worrying about any hidden agendas Luxianbei might have that could be detrimental to him, constantly glancing at the hidden meat cleaver in the door compartment.
Du Sixian had encountered the ghost story incident, and after a night of turmoil, she soon fell asleep after getting into the car.
Luxianbei stole glances at Uncle Zhang, then slightly parted her lips.
“I say, Uncle! You…”
Hearing this, Zhang Shan’s body trembled slightly, causing the taxi to sway along the road, and then he shot a glare at Luxianbei through the rearview mirror, loudly saying, “Don’t say it; I don’t want to hear!”
Are you trying to say that you’re just here to catch a cheater? Who’s going to believe that? Anyway, I don’t buy it, and don’t explain to me; I don’t want to hear it! The more I know, the more dangerous it gets; I completely understand that.
Even if you really are here to catch a cheater, looking at your appearance, I have reason to suspect that the corpse of a scumbag is in your suitcase! Zhang Shan thought.
After being cut off by Zhang Shan, Luxianbei remained silent, and the rest of the ride was quiet, with no one speaking.
Zhang Shan took the two on a winding route through half the city, first dropping off Du Sixian at her place. Once Luxianbei had safely seen her upstairs, Zhang Shan took her back towards Jingyi Apartment.
When the car arrived at the entrance of the apartment, he confirmed that Luxianbei hadn’t left anything odd in the car, declined the fare, and directly pushed her out of the car.
Sitting in the car with one hand resting on the window, Zhang Shan lit a cigarette, watching Luxianbei’s back gradually vanish from sight.
After the cigarette b*tt burned out, he reignited the engine and turned back into the night.
Next time, no, tomorrow, just tomorrow.
I must go to the Great Buddha Temple to request a talisman for protection; it’s worth spending any amount! Zhang Shan thought.
